“Oh, how wonderful, how pleasing it is when God’s people all come together as one!” Psalm 133:1 (ERV)
When I first read Psalm 133:1, I had a peaceful feeling, and the countenance on my face was a soft smile. The Easy-to-Read Version was the first translation I read. As soon as I did, my mind automatically went to the feeling I had in church this past Sunday. Sitting on the church pew with my husband and three children, listening to the choir, soloist, and even the entire congregation sing praise songs and hymns, and then hear my pastor preach God’s word was such a feeling of serenity and comfort for me.
For some folks, the minute they step into a church building or even drive into the parking lot, they get a feeling of anxiety. Could it be guilt? Lordy mercy, if that’s the case, we should all feel that way for the sins we do. But, going to church, for me, is a place where I know that I am safe from the distorted things of this world. I know my family is all together. I take comfort in that and breathe a bit easier knowing that we are all there hearing good things through The Good News of Jesus Christ. It gives me a feeling of security and joy just knowing that I am surrounded not only by my family but by friends who love the Lord and desire to know more about Him.
After my thoughts of this past Sunday, my mind raced in many other directions with times of gathering and there were peace. A couple of instances, that I’ll be journaling about both later were:
- The gathering of my school family (Yes! We are a family, not just co-workers at Tomlin.) yesterday when we remembered and honored the life of one of our family members that passed away on Thanksgiving Day.
- The wonderful opportunity my community and surrounding areas have coming up on December 14, 15, and 16 to gather together to hear songs and witness the dramatization of the story of Jesus’ birth at my church (Plant City’s First Baptist Church).
I just know that God had a smile on His face when He saw the Tomlin family (past and present) come together in unity. And then again, later that same evening, while practicing the drama for one of the songs for the church Christmas cantata, I could just imagine God having a grin on His face and saying, “Thank you for telling the story of My Son’s birth.”
In the NIV we read these words:
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”… “For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”
Notice that I added verse 3b to finish it off. I had to. The reward of receiving God’s blessing and the assurance of life forevermore is like icing on the cake.
I want to encourage you to do two things:
- Get to church! Find a local body of believers who gather together to grow closer in their relationship with God through sound biblical teaching.
- Go to a performance of Jesus’ birth. If you are in my area, I’d love for you to make a date with your family, friends, with your significant other, or by yourself, to come witness the story of Christmas.
I sure hope you get a peaceful feeling today.
Blessings to you!
November 28, “Walking in the Word”